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Kos Information
Kos is a Greek island in the south Sporades group of the Dodecanese, next to the Gulf of Gökova. It measures 40 kilometers by 8 kilometers, and is only 4 kilometers from the coast of Bodrum, Turkey and the ancient region of Caria. It's location makes it an ideal side-trip as it is only a 45 minute ferry ride from Bodrum. The prices on Kos are considerably higher than they are in Turkey, so basing out of Turkey and taking a sidetrip to Kos will allow you to stretch your holiday budget. The seaside village of Kos is the administrative center and largest town on the island. The shores of Kos Island are washed by the waters of the Aegean Sea. Its coastline is 112 kilometers long and is graced by long immaculate beaches. The main port and population centre on the island, also called Kos, is also the tourist and cultural centre, with narrow stone streets with whitewashed buildings including many hotels, restaurants and a small number of nightclubs along "barstreet". The ancient physician Hippocrates is thought to have been born on Kos, and in the center of the town is the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, a dream temple where the physician is traditionally supposed to have taught. The small city is also home to the International Hippocratic Institute and the Hippocratic Museum dedicated to him. Near the Institute are the ruins of Asklepieion, where Herodicus taught Hippocrates medicine. Kardamena is a popular resort on the island for young British holidaymakers and has a large number of bars and nightclubs. Kardamena's beautiful sandy beach with crystal clear water and a length of almost 5 kilometers it's the longest beach on Kos island.
Getting There
The airport in Kos is in the centre of the island just south of Mastichari and 26 kilometers west of the village of Kos. It is known as Hippocrates Airport or Kos Ippokratis and Olympic Airways operate the only scheduled flights out of Kos, these to Athens with three daily flights, and to Rhodes about three times a week. There is no public transport direct from the airport and most passengers take package tour shuttle buses, hotel minibuses or taxis. Public transport is available on the large roundabout outside the airport gates with a KTEL service to Kos Town and services to the ferry port at Mastichari. The harbour area at the village of Kos is packed with ferry agents and travel offices with offers of scheduled services, boat trips and excursions. There are daily boats to Bodrum just 45 minutes away in Turkey leaving around 0830 and returning 1600.
Getting Around
Taxis are plentiful and found mostly around the harbour area beneath the minaret or across from the castle. Taxis fares are fixed, but is often a good idea to negotiate a price before getting in and there's little need for pre-scheduling as there are so many taxis that calling up a taxi when you need one is not a problem, and much cheaper. Car and motorbike rentals in Kos is very expensive and you will be hard put to find any cheap deals. There are a couple of tourist trains operated by KTEL. They are pricey and slow but it is the only public transport to the Asklepieion from the village of Kos. The Kos Town buses (DEAS) run routes around the town while KTEL buses take you everywhere else on frequent schedules. Buses go from the village of Kos every 30 minutes to Psaldi, Agios Fokas, Mesaria and Platani. Latest schedules are posted at Kos Town harbour and the bus station. Timetables are available free of charge, both in Greek and in English. Kos island buses get very overcrowded at peak times.
What To See
The port village of Kos is a rather crazed mix of beach resort, open air nightclub and ancient ruins that spreads in all directions inland from the enclosed port. Greek and Roman remains, including age old columns and very interesting marble and stone street mosaics, are incongruously pitted against music-thumping street bars that are a blinding nightmare of neon at night. During the day it is still an interesting and pleasant town. Neatly layed out streets that are wide, clean and tree-lined, span out from idyllic small squares that are profuse with flowers, grapevines, and palm trees. The Plane Tree of Hippocrates is supposedly the oldest tree in Europe, a huge Planton more than 50 feet in diameter, it is said that Hippocrates himself was taught in its shade. Beyond the tree is the Venetian Castle of the Knights, built in the 14th century. The beach in the center of Kos Village is the beginning of a long trail of sand leading all the way south to the cape at Agios Fokas. The beach is narrower in the village and packed with sunbathers as far as you can see. If it is nightlfe you are after, then Bar Street in Kardamenia is for you. Tons of bars and restauarants and much pricier than the ones along the south coast of Turkey.
Things To Do
The Island of Kos is ideal for bicycling. It is also one of the few, if not the only island to have dedicated cycle lanes over much of the island. The only road that is busy is the one from Kos Town to Kefalos, all the others have much less traffic and are safe for cycling. Don't try to take a bike onto any of the buses because they won't allow you. There are thousands cycles for rent on Kos and they are cheaper if you rent them for several days. The beaches are attractive with flat white sand with the seas on the south side of the island usually being much calmer. The younger and more affluent tourists are all living it up in Kardamena. While Kamari is a much more sedate resort for the middle-aged who prefer a quiet holiday. Your travel budget will go much farther in Turkey, but side excursions to these Greek Islands make for enjoyable and interesting side-trips. Bodrum, Turkey is only 45 minutes away by ferry, or even less on one of the fast hydrofoils that run between Kos and Bodrum.
Food And Drink
The food on Kos is much the same as other foods in the eastern Aegean or Mediterranean. The Greeks and the Turkish always claim that the foods are of their own national heritage, but in each country you'll find that they are very often the same foods, but just with different names. Anywhere you go on the island of Kos you will find that excellent restaurants are plentiful, but considerably more pricey than those serving the same basic meals available in Turkey for far less cost. The cuisines of both countries are quite healthy and mouth-watering using very fresh vegetables and delicious grilled chicken, beef, and lamb.
Dalyan Queens Hotel
Gay friendly British owned and operated Hotel minutes away from Sarigerme
Gay Turkey Travel Guide
Information for gays in the major cites and towns of Turkey
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